British Colonial Seating
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.
As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.
Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.
To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.
Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
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Style: British Colonial
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery
19th Century Jamaican Campeche / Planter Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant British Colonial 1810-1830 Campeche chair is made of solid mahogany and was known in Jamaica as a Spanish chair in the period. This West Indies Planter chair...
Category
Early 19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of British Colonial Deco Period Armchairs
Located in Richmond, VA
Pair of British Colonial Deco Period Armchairs. Made of teak in the British East Indies
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bamboo
Pair Brighton Pavillon Style Burnt Bamboo & Cane Chairs Early 20Th C
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in this A pair of late early 20th century bamboo open armchairs in the Brighton Pavilion Taste each with an inserted black and gold lacquered figurative panel.
The seats are wit...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bamboo, Cane, Lacquer
Bamboo Lounge Chair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage lounge chair crafted with bent bamboo and woven rattan in an elegant modern form featuring pullout footrest and adjustable back.
Extended depth 60".
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
$3,900
British Colonial Art Deco Teak Bench or Sofa
Located in Vienna, AT
Unique original Colonial Art Deco teak bench/sofa made in Myanmar around 1930. The bench stands on six feet with brass sleeves that have a wonderful original...
Category
1930s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Brass
Armchair English Leather from, 19th Century Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
English club armchair, leather first half of the 20th century. Vintage.
Solid mahogany club chair, English. Classic upholstery which was upholstered with leather. Armrest partly a...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Luxurious 2.5-seater sheep leather sofa with fabric cushions in English style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This fantastic sheep leather 2.5-seater sofa exudes luxury and offers amazing seating comfort. The sofa comes with original loose seat and decorative cushions. The detachable armrest...
Category
20th Century British Colonial Seating
Materials
Leather, Textile
Victoria Chair with Tassel Foot, Susanne Hollis Collection
Located in San Marino, CA
Our Victoria chair with tassel foot detailing in our ebonized finish with a light distress, inspired by an original Swedish 1930s Art Deco pair we f...
Category
2010s American British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Tufted Leather Foot Stool or Bench, with Raising Capabilities
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a fine, 19th century, brown leather, button tufted foot stool with mahogany frame and brass tacks over turned legs and brass wheels. Having t...
Category
1860s British Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Ficks and Reed Rattan Chaise Lounge
By Ficks Reed
Located in Bellport, NY
A newly upholstered Ficks and Reed chaise longue, indoor outdoor fabric, new fill in cushions, zippers installed. Lovely condition, easily placed in mos...
Category
1970s American Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Rattan, Paint
$1,900 Sale Price
44% Off
Carolina Bamboo & Cane Bench
Located in Bellport, NY
The Carolina Bench beautifully hand crafted in Spain of bamboo and cane. The seat is covered in a sunbrella natural tone fabric. The bottom level is gre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Seating
Materials
Linen, Bamboo, Cane
Ensemble de salon en bois sculpté – Circa 1880
Located in NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FR
Ensemble de salon en bois sculpté – Circa 1880
Superbe ensemble de mobilier de salon en bois patiné, finement sculpté de masques grotesques, comprenant :
Un canapé
Une paire de fau...
Category
1880s Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wood
Mid-20th Century Restored Rattan Settee With Built-in Side Table and New Custom
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A rare and sculptural Mid-20th Century rattan settee featuring a Chippendale back design, gracefully arched supports, and integrated side table with original smoked glass top. The fr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Seating
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Rattan, Smoked Glass
20th Century Nichols & Stone National Cathedral Ebonized and Gilt Windsor Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 20th Century Nichols & Stone National Cathedral School Ebonized and Gilt Windsor Chair in excellent vintage condition.
Measures 16.5" in width, 18" in depth, 33" in height wit...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Seating
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
English Country Mahogany Ladderback Roundabout Corner Arm Chair Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to early 20th century English Country roundabout corner armchair. Made of mahogany featuring rounded form with ladderback supports over turned posts and supports, vinyl seat and ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
$704 Sale Price
20% Off
Original Walnut Wing Chair, circa 1900
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Original walnut wing chair, circa 1900.
Armchair reupholstered and refinished a short time ago,
small stains on the fabric.
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th C. English Mahogany Chaise with Heavy Woven Guatemalan Fabric
Located in North Miami, FL
An early 19th century antique sculptural mahogany chaise lounge with turned wood stretchers and elegantly curved backrest. The heavy woven fabric is new and provides an additional p...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Bauer International Inc. British Colonial style Hand Cane Ottoman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a well thought after Bauer International British Colonial style Hand Cane Ottoman with a curule form.
The cane seat is in perfect vintage condition, no loss of cane.
Very goo...
Category
1950s Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Cane, Wood
Antique Colonial Stencil Back Black Painted Plank Bottom Rocker Rocking Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Stencil Back Black Painted Plank Bottom Rocker Rocking Chair. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 40" H x 20.5" W x 24.5" D x 15" Seat height.
Category
19th Century Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wood
Victorian Military Campaign Folding Faux Bamboo Embroidered Safari Cane Chair
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A delicate slice of Victorian Military Campaign. A folding Chair of Faux Bamboo, with an Embroidered Canvas Seat Rear Finished With Brown Leather Sl...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Brass
$2,235 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage British Colonial Plantation Ladder Back Rush Armchairs Pair
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful pair of British Colonial plantation armchairs with tall ladder back and natural woven Rush seating, Circa 1960's. Oak or Mohogany.
Except...
Category
1960s British Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Rush, Oak
Antique Oak Wood Bowed Windsor Dining Side Chair by Northwestern Mfg.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Oak Wood Bowed Windsor dining side chair by Northwestern Mfg. Item features black vinyl upholstered seat (originally cane), turn carved legs, ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Seating
Materials
Oak
Lovely Painted Wicker Peacock Chair
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very pretty and excellent quality wicker peacock chair, very intricate work and in excellent overall condition.
44" high
28.5" wide
28" overall depth
18" seat height
You are welc...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wicker
Italian antique colonial bamboo wood and damask fabric chair, 1910s
Located in MIlano, IT
Colonial chair with wooden structure with round section slats and bamboo covering, padded seat and backrest covered in their original damask fabric.
1910 ca.
Good general condition.
...
Category
1910s Italian Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Fabric, Bamboo, Wood
Wicker Armchairs from the FS Flores Collection, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of mid century inspired armchairs crafted in wicker or reed ambitiously woven over a sturdy metal frame. One of many new designs from the FS Flores Collection...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Seating
Materials
Reed
A Pair of Vintage Rattan Club Chairs
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully crafted pair of vintage rattan armchairs features a rich, dark finish and an airy open-weave lattice design. The arched back and gently sloped arms offer a comfortab...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Seating
Materials
Rattan
Wicker Armchairs from the FS Flores Collection, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial armchairs crafted with a sturdy metal frame ambitiously wrapped in reed with comfort and classic form set on turned wood feet. Exclusively designed and offered by F.S. Henemader Antiques from the FS Flores collection...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wicker
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Antique Wooden Oak Chair
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Art Nouveau Spiral Spindle Antique Chair.
Made from walnut, American-made from the 1930's. Hand-carved.
Purchased at an antique store in New Orleans.
Category
1930s British Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Oak
Vintage British Colonial Style Zebra Safari Folding Stool or Seat
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century British colonial style stool with a zebra hide seat fitted to three folding ebonized legs with brass feet. As seen in the last photo of the listing, a similar stool is al...
Category
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Zebra Hide
British Colonial seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial seating for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, natural fiber and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial seating made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original seating, popular names associated with this style include Andrianna Shamaris, Baker Furniture Company, Dr. Pascaud, and English School. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $52,000 while the average work can sell for $3,694.